Birmingham

Birmingham's population expanded in the decade leading up to the most recent census. Data from the census also show there were changes in ethnicity, religion and housing tenure.

The population passed a million

Between the last two censuses, the population of Birmingham increased by 9.8%, from just over 977,000 to 1,070,000.

The addition of just under 96,000 people means this area's population was the second-fastest-growing in the West Midlands and increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Birmingham was home to, on average, 29 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres). This made it the West Midlands' most densely-populated district.

Population density was higher than the average across the West Midlands

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the West Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

A younger Birmingham

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Birmingham decreased by one year, from 33 to 32 years.

This urban area had the lowest average age in the West Midlands and remained younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just under 37,000 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 70 and 79 years decreased by about 3,000.

About 17% of people in Birmingham are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Birmingham by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Birmingham

The number of people in Birmingham from the White ethnic groups increased from just under 690,000 in 2001 to about 620,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 70% to 58% of the local population.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across the West Midlands (from 89% to 83%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Birmingham from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 200,000 in 2001 to about 290,000 in 2011 (from 20% to 27%). The number of residents from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from just under 60,000 to just over 96,000 (from 6.1% to 9.0%).

Just under 48,000 people (2.9%) said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from just under 28,000 in 2001 (4.4%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Birmingham decreased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Birmingham by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Birmingham

The number of people in Birmingham that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 120,000 in 2001 to just under 210,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 12% to 19% of the local population.

The percentage increased by less than the average across the West Midlands (from 12% to 22%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Birmingham that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 580,000 in 2001 to just over 490,000 in 2011 (from 59% to 46%). The number of people who described themselves as Muslim increased from just over 140,000 to just over 230,000 (from 14% to 22%).

About 70,000 people (8.4%) did not state their religion, down from just under 82,000 in 2001 (6.5%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Birmingham increased by 6.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Birmingham by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Birmingham stood out from other areas for single-person households

In Birmingham, the proportion came down from 33% in 2001 to 32% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 29% to 30%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Birmingham increased from 6.8% to 8.1%, while the percentage of households with a married couple decreased from 30% to 28%.

The percentage of households with only a single-person was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households that that comprised only a single person across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

This area saw the West Midlands' largest rise in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.

Across the region, Wolverhampton saw the next largest increase in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents (from 11% in 2001 to 12% in 2011).

During this period, Birmingham went from having the 23rd-highest to the 13th-lowest percentage of households with only adult children living with their parents out of 309 English local authority areas.

In 2011, just over 1 in 10 (10%) households in Birmingham had only adult children living with their parents, compared with 9.4% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child increased from 33% to 34%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households that where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

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